Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 22nd December, 2023 urging to observe pre-declared nationwide peaceful blockade program.

“The government has kept majority of the opposition leaders and seized their ways to take part in the election. They have distributed the parliamentary seats among themselves and took initiative to introduce Bangladesh in the global arena as a nation without democracy and election. Awami League already realized that people will not go to cast their votes on 7th January’s election. This is why, they are creating pressure, causing threats and intimidations against the people. By utilizing the administration for holding a farcical election already they have been criticized both home and abroad and still they are facing the similar criticism. The election commissioners are also stating that if election is not held fairly and credibly, then the government has to take its liabilities.

The government is still continuing the arrest drives and convicting the opposition men in connection with false cases. Only on Thursday, convictions have been awarded against 195 opposition leaders and activists. On last 19th December, a court sentenced life time imprisonment against 13 Jamaat leaders of Natore district. The opposition leaders and activists cannot stay in their home, move freely even they cannot join the funeral prayers and mosques to perform rituals. Defying the government’s obstructions, the people are taking the movement toward success. Ignoring the public demand, the government is making arrangement to hold a farcical election, but the people will never let them to make it happened.

Under the circumstances, I am urging the leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the fellow countrymen to make pre-declared nationwide blockade successful on 24th December and to intensify the ongoing anti-government movement.